Music and Drama
Children explore rhythm, movement, and creative expression through hands-on music and drama. They learn fundamentals like melody and notation while building confidence through storytelling, puppetry, and simple performances.
The Gardner School of Manassas
Leading Preschool for Manassas Families
Where Play and Learning Work Together
The Gardner School of Manassas offers a safe, nurturing, and academically focused environment where children feel supported and encouraged to grow. Families appreciate our strong emphasis on social-emotional development, early academics, and the warm relationships that help children gain confidence each day. Conveniently located between Nokesville Road and Gateway Boulevard near BP, our school serves families in Manassas, Bristow, Nokesville, Gainesville, and nearby communities.
Welcoming School Where Children Love to Explore
Our blended curriculum includes Creative Curriculum, World of Wonders, Learning Without Tears, and elements of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Teachers guide learning through hands-on exploration, thoughtful routines, and meaningful family partnerships that keep parents informed and involved. We proudly welcome families using the Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program through Virginia ECC card payments, helping make high-quality early learning more accessible. With bright classrooms, caring teachers, and a large natural playground certified by the Natural Start Alliance, children gain a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Location
Inside this School
Learning
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Our academically focused, blended curriculum supports early literacy, math, creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth. Teachers regularly assess development and guide children through purposeful play and hands-on learning that prepares them for kindergarten and beyond.
Safety and Health
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Secure entry systems, clean classrooms, and consistent daily routines help children feel safe and supported. Teachers follow attentive safety practices that support health, comfort, and family peace of mind.
Environment and Design
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Our preschool features a spacious, interactive playground with abundant green space. The outdoor areas are certified by the Natural Start Alliance, creating an environment where children learn, explore, and connect with nature in meaningful ways. Indoors, bright and organized classrooms invite curiosity and joyful learning.
Community and Support
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Manassas families value our warm school culture, open communication, real-time updates, and strong partnerships with parents. We proudly accept Virginia ECC card payments through the Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program, helping more families access high-quality, nurturing early education.
Academically-Focused Programs
At The Gardner School, learning truly begins with care. Our infant classrooms provide a nurturing start built on a nationally recognized, research-based curriculum that supports early learning and development. With teachers who understand both the science and the soul of early education, babies grow in an environment that builds trust, curiosity, and confidence from the very beginning.
Toddlers are natural explorers, full of curiosity, movement, and new words waiting to bloom. At The Gardner School, our toddler classrooms nurture and celebrate this growing independence through play-based learning and intentional teaching. Each day builds confidence, language, and friendship in an environment that’s safe, structured, and full of joy. Our early childhood education program develops the whole child — encouraging physical coordination, emotional confidence, and early cognitive growth in every discovery.
Two-year-olds are bursting with curiosity and confidence. At The Gardner School, our classrooms encourage this new independence through hands-on learning, nurturing guidance, and joyful discovery. Teachers help children explore, experiment, and build social and self-help skills in a safe environment where learning and laughter go hand in hand. In this two-year-old early learning classroom, children begin to strengthen emotional regulation, independence, and empathy while exploring the world around them.
Preschoolers are natural problem-solvers and collaborators. At The Gardner School, our classrooms inspire curiosity, confidence, and creativity through hands-on learning and purposeful structure. Teachers guide children through new concepts in literacy, math, science, and art, helping them build independence, friendships, and a lifelong love of learning. Our preschool classrooms encourage critical thinking and pre-academic foundations that set the stage for kindergarten success.
Pre-K is a milestone year filled with confidence, curiosity, and preparation for what’s next. At The Gardner School, our teachers guide children through meaningful, play-based learning that builds academic readiness, social skills, and independence. With a curriculum designed around kindergarten preparation, students develop the focus, responsibility, and love of learning that will carry them into elementary school and beyond. Our Pre-K program helps children grow the attention, independence, and social skills they need to feel confident and ready for kindergarten.
Available at select Gardner School locations, our Private Kindergarten program offers a full day of meaningful, research-based learning in a small, supportive classroom setting. With nearly half the student-teacher ratio of most schools, children receive the personalized attention and enrichment that build confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Our private kindergarten program represents the culmination of early childhood education at TGS—balancing 21st-century learning skills with the heart of whole-child development.
Enrichment Programs
Sports
Active, structured classes help children build coordination, strength, and confidence. Through sports like soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and yoga, they practice teamwork, listening skills, and healthy movement habits.
Martial Arts
Martial arts introduce balance, discipline, and respectful movement in a safe, beginner-friendly format. Children learn basic stances and controlled motions that build focus, confidence, and body awareness.
Dance and Movement
Children build balance, coordination, and spatial awareness through beginner dance and creative movement. With simple steps, stretching, and expressive motion, they strengthen motor skills while growing confidence and joy in how their bodies move.
S.T.E.A.M.
Hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiences spark curiosity and critical thinking. Through simple experiments and creative projects, children explore how things work and discover the joy of learning.
Foreign Language
Through songs, games, and simple vocabulary, children are introduced to the basics of a second language to enable basic conversational skills. Lessons built around familiar themes make learning fun, natural, and age-appropriate.
Seasonal Experiences
Children participate in seasonal, multi-week, or pop-up enrichment classes that may include cooking, gardening, or exciting seasonal activities. These experiences offer fresh ways to learn, create, and discover.
School Leadership
Jessica Kim
Executive School Director
Jessica Kim
Executive School Director
Jessica’s favorite moments at The Gardner School happen during those everyday connections with families, the quick morning check-ins, the warm goodbyes at closing, and the small conversations that deepen relationships over time. These daily interactions remind her why she loves being part of a community where parents, teachers, and children truly feel supported.
Laura Zavala
Assistant Director
Laura Zavala
Assistant Director
Laura’s favorite moments at The Gardner School of Manassas often happen right in the classrooms. She loves popping in during play or mealtimes, listening to the hilarious conversations children have with each other, and joining in for stories, games, or a little outside time. Those simple, joyful interactions remind her why she has loved being part of this community since 2013.
Schedule a Tour
Please select a date and time that works best for you (tours are ~45 minutes). We recommend visiting in the morning between 9:30 – 11:30 am. Of course, we completely understand that is not always possible with families’ schedules and welcome families to join whenever is most convenient for you. If you aren’t ready to tour yet or these times below don’t work for your family, use the Contact Us button below, and we will coordinate a time together.
Contact Us
If you aren’t yet ready to schedule a tour or the available times do not work for your family, please click Contact Us to connect with someone from The Gardner School.